The information in this website is therefore out of date but retained for archival and staff purposes.

'The Origin and End of the Universe'

Prof Paul Davies, Arizona State University

The universe as we know it burst into existence 13.7 billion years ago in a big bang, and has been expanding ever since. Scientists have created an over-arching cosmic narrative of birth, evolution and eventual death, but within this framework many questions remain. Is there a directionality to the growth of complexity and richness in the universe? What are the mysterious dark matter and dark energy that hold the key to the ultimate fate of the cosmos? Will the universe end with a bang or a whimper? And what is the destiny of living beings in the immensity of physical existence?

Paul Davies is a theoretical physicist, cosmologist, astrobiologist and best-selling author. He is Regents’ Professor and Director of Beyond: Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science, at Arizona State University, where he is also co-Director of the Cosmology Initiative and Principal Investigator of the Center for the Convergence of Physical Science and Cancer Biology. Prior to his move to the USA in 2006, he helped create the Australian Centre for Astrobiology in Sydney. Davies has written about 30 books, many for the general public. His most recent is The Eerie Silence: are we alone in the universe? In 1995 he was awarded the Templeton Prize for his work on the deeper meaning of science. He was also awarded the Faraday Prize by The Royal Society, the Kelvin Medal by the UK Institute of Physics, the 2011 Robinson Cosmology Prize, and many book awards, as well as three honorary degrees. In June 2007 he was named a Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s birthday honors list and in December 2011 he was presented with the Bicentenary Medal of Chile. The asteroid 1992 OG was renamed (6870) Pauldavies in recognition of his work on cosmic impacts. Paul Davies is also known worldwide as a television and radio commentator and is the author of hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles.

Centre for the History of European Discourses and Brisscience University of Queensland